These Regulations may be cited as the Crediting of Third Country and Military Certification for Air Traffic Controllers Regulations 2025 and they come into force on 10th December 2025.
These Regulations empower the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to grant credit towards UK Air Traffic Controller (ATCO) licence requirements for specified training and experience obtained by applicants holding either a third-country ATCO licence or a UK military certificate of competence.
This credit can manifest as a reduction in course duration, the number of lessons, or specific training hours, provided the CAA obtains and assesses a comprehensive credit report from a training organisation confirming the equivalence of the prior training to the UK ATCO training requirements, excluding cases covered by existing international agreements.
Arguments For
Facilitates the recognition of professional qualifications obtained outside the standard UK/EU framework, potentially increasing the pool of qualified Air Traffic Controllers (ATCOs).
Allows UK military personnel who hold Certificates of Competence to more easily transition into civilian ATCO roles by crediting their training and experience.
Establishes a formal, structured process (requiring credit reports from training organisations) to ensure that credited experience meets the defined UK ATCO training requirements, maintaining safety standards.
Introduces mandated periodic reviews (Section 7) to ensure the regulatory system remains appropriate and effective over time, aligning with good governance principles.
Arguments Against
Introducing mechanisms for 'credit' may introduce complexity in assessing equivalence between significantly different regulatory regimes (third-country licences and military standards).
Reliance on external credit reports from training organisations introduces a dependency on third parties for regulatory compliance assessments.
The exclusions in Regulation 4(5) relating to international agreements could create inconsistencies in recognition for certain third-country holders.
The process might be perceived as burdensome for applicants if the requirements for the required credit report are stringent, potentially delaying entry into the UK ATCO workforce.
The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by Articles 50(1)(c) and 68(3) of Regulation (EU) 2018/11391.
The Secretary of State created these Regulations using powers granted under Articles 50(1)(c) and 68(3) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1139.
Citation and commencement1.
The official title of this legislation is the Crediting of Third Country and Military Certification for Air Traffic Controllers Regulations 2025.
These rules officially become effective starting on December 10th, 2025.
Extent2.
These Regulations extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The geographic scope of these Regulations covers all parts of the United Kingdom: England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Interpretation3.
In these Regulations—
“ATCO” means air traffic controller;
“ATCO Licensing Regulation” means Commission Regulation (EU) No 2015/3402 of 20th February 2015 laying down technical requirements and administrative procedures relating to air traffic controllers’ licences and certificates pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council, amending Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 923/2012 and repealing Commission Regulation (EU) No 805/2011;
“the CAA” and “third country” have the same meaning as in Article 3 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1139;
“third country licence” means an ATCO licence issued in accordance with Annex 1 to the Chicago Convention3 by a third country;
“training organisation” has the same meaning as in Article 4(29) of the ATCO Licensing Regulation;
“UK” means the United Kingdom;
“UK ATCO licence” has the same meaning as “licence” in Article 4(14) of the ATCO Licensing Regulation;
“UK ATCO training requirements” means the requirements in Subpart D of Annex I to the ATCO Licensing Regulation (air traffic controller training).
This section defines key terms used throughout the Regulations.
An 'ATCO' is an air traffic controller.
The 'ATCO Licensing Regulation' refers specifically to EU Regulation 2015/340, which sets out the technical and administrative rules for licensing ATCOs. 'The CAA' and 'third country' are defined by reference to Regulation (EU) 2018/1139.
A 'third country licence' is an ATCO licence issued by a non-EU country, following Annex 1 of the Chicago Convention. 'Training organisation' refers to an entity defined in the ATCO Licensing Regulation, and 'UK' means the United Kingdom.
Finally, 'UK ATCO licence' and 'UK ATCO training requirements' refer to the specific UK definition of a licence and the standard training stipulations in Subpart D of Annex I to the ATCO Licensing Regulation.
Crediting of ATCO training and experience from third country licence holders4.
(1)
Where an applicant for a UK ATCO licence holds a third country licence, the CAA may give credit for any knowledge, experience and skills acquired to obtain that licence which is equivalent to the knowledge, experience and skills required to comply with the UK ATCO training requirements.
(2)
The credit referred to in paragraph (1) may take the form of a reduction in one or more of the following—
(a)
course duration,
(b)
number of lessons, and
(c)
specific training hours.
(3)
Before giving credit to an applicant under paragraph (1), the CAA must obtain a credit report from a training organisation for the purpose of assessing the compliance of the training undertaken for the applicant’s third country licence with the UK ATCO training requirements.
(4)
The CAA must consider a recommendation made in the credit report referred to in paragraph (3) when determining any credit to be given to an applicant under paragraph (1).
(5)
This regulation does not apply if the applicant’s third country licence was issued by a country which is party to an international agreement with the UK concerning the recognition of certificates referred to in Article 68(1)(a) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1139.
This rule permits the CAA to grant credit for knowledge, experience, and skills gained by an applicant holding a third-country ATCO licence, provided that experience is equivalent to the UK ATCO training requirements.
This credit can reduce the required course duration, the count of lessons, or the mandatory training hours.
Before granting credit, the CAA must secure a credit report from a designated training organisation to evaluate the compliance of the applicant’s foreign training.
The CAA must take the training organisation's recommendation into account when deciding on the credit amount.
This specific provision does not apply if the third-country licence originated from a nation that has an existing international agreement with the UK regarding the recognition of certain certificates defined in Regulation (EU) 2018/1139.
Crediting of ATCO training and experience from UK military certificate of competence holders5.
(1)
Where an applicant for a UK ATCO licence who holds a UK military certificate of competence, the CAA may give credit for any knowledge, experience and skills gained in the training for that certification which is equivalent to the knowledge, experience and skills required to comply with the UK ATCO training requirements.
(2)
The credit referred to in paragraph (1) may take the form of a reduction in one or more of the following—
(a)
course duration,
(b)
number of lessons,
(c)
specific training hours.
(3)
Before giving credit to an applicant under paragraph (1), the CAA must obtain a credit report from a training organisation for the purpose of assessing the compliance of the training undertaken for the applicant’s UK military certificate of competence with the UK ATCO training requirements.
(4)
The CAA must consider a recommendation made in the credit report referred to in paragraph (3) when determining any credit to be given to an applicant under paragraph (1).
(5)
“UK military certificate of competence” means an ATCO certificate of competence issued by the UK’s Ministry of Defence in accordance with Regulatory Article RA 32024.
This section allows the CAA to grant credit for training gained by an applicant who possesses a UK military certificate of competence, if that training meets the UK ATCO training requirements.
Similar to Regulation 4, this credit can reduce course duration, lesson count, or specific training hours.
The CAA must obtain an assessment from a training organisation via a credit report to verify that the military training is equivalent to the civilian standards, and the CAA must consider the report's recommendation.
A 'UK military certificate of competence' is specifically defined as certification issued by the UK Ministry of Defence under Regulatory Article RA 3202.
Contents of a credit report6.
A credit report referred to in regulations 4(3) and 5(3) must, as a minimum—
(a)
describe the basis on which the third country or the UK military certificate of competence, including any associated ratings, certificates, authorisations and qualifications, was issued,
(b)
describe the scope of the privileges that were given to the ATCO,
(c)
assess the extent to which knowledge, experience and skills acquired for the purpose of a third country licence or UK military certificate of competence are equivalent to the UK ATCO training requirements,
(d)
recommend the UK ATCO training requirements for which credit may be given,
(e)
include a copy of any document necessary to demonstrate the elements described in sub-paragraphs (a) to (c), and copies the relevant national requirements and procedures, where such documents are available, and
(f)
include, where available, a copy of relevant national requirements and procedures.
This mandates the minimum contents for the credit reports required in Regulations 4(3) and 5(3).
The report must detail the basis for issuing the third-country licence or military certificate, including any associated ratings or qualifications.
It must also describe the scope of privileges granted to the ATCO. Furthermore, it must assess how equivalent the acquired knowledge and skills are compared to the UK ATCO training requirements and recommend which specific UK requirements should be credited.
The report must also attach supporting documentation, including national requirements and procedures, if they are available.
Review7.
(1)
The Secretary of State must from time to time—
(a)
carry out a review of the Crediting of Third Country and Military Certification for Air Traffic Controllers Regulations 2025,
(b)
set out the conclusions of the review in a report, and
(c)
publish the report.
(2)
Section 30(4) of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 20155 requires that the report must in particular—
(a)
set out the objectives intended to be achieved by the regulatory system established by these Regulations,
(b)
assess the extent to which those objectives are achieved, and
(c)
assess whether those objectives remain appropriate and, if so, the extent to which they could be achieved with a system that imposes less regulation.
(3)
The first report under this regulation must be published before 10th December 2030.
(4)
Reports under this regulation are afterwards to be published at intervals not exceeding five years.
The Secretary of State must periodically review these Regulations by conducting a review, documenting its findings in a report, and then publishing that report.
The report must follow requirements laid out in the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015, specifically outlining the intended objectives of the regulations, assessing their achievement, and evaluating if those objectives remain valid while considering if less regulatory burden could suffice. The initial review report must be published before December 10th, 2030, and subsequent reports must follow at intervals no longer than five years.
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